Our Foster Carer 

Referral & Recognition Program

With Care Friends

Get the app now

You already know how rewarding it is to foster a child – now you can help others start their journey and earn instant rewards with the Care Friends app.

Register by scanning the QR code with your mobile or tapping on the link below.

Sign up and download the app to get started — you’ll instantly earn 10 points!

Tap here to register on mobile

Why would I refer?

To grow the carer community

Having more foster carers means a stronger community where carers can share experiences, advice, and emotional support with others who truly understand.

More stability for children in need

Every new carer helps ensure that children are matched with the right homes sooner, reducing waiting times and giving them the stability and care they deserve.

Personal reward and recognition

Referring someone is a way to make an even bigger difference. You’ll be recognised for helping grow the foster care network and earn Care Friends points as a thank-you for your contribution.

What are the referral rewards?

(in addition to finding more carers and helping more kids!)

5 Points

Sharing a listing with your network via the app.

5 Points

When your referral expresses interest and is contactable.

20 Points

When your referral passes the initial home visit.

40 Points

When your referral
completes training

40 Points

When your referral
passes assessments

40 Points

When your referral becomes an approved carer.

100 Points

When they reach their 6 month carer milestone.

1 point = $1, which can be redeemed for gift card(s)

What are the recognition rewards?

We love celebrating all the incredible things you do. Big and small! You can be recognised with points for numerous reasons. Some of these are:

12 Month retention

Giving a special shout-out to those who’ve been with us and made such a lasting difference in children’s lives.

Care Advisory Members

Are acknowledged for the guidance, ideas, and leadership they bring to shaping better foster care.

Just Because

For those everyday wins, extra effort, or moments that make a real difference for the children in your care.

FAQs

A referral program is a simple way for people to recommend others in their network for opportunities.

We’re always looking for new foster carers, and we want to make it easy for you to share this opportunity with people you know who might make great carers. By referring someone, you’re helping grow our foster care community with more caring and committed people like you.

A recognition program is our way of acknowledging and celebrating the great work you do. It’s designed to recognise your efforts, achievements, and positive contributions, so you feel valued and appreciated for the difference you make every day.

Care Friends is a mobile referral and recognition app designed to support foster carers. It lets you easily share our opportunities with people you know while also making it effortless us to recognise you for other things you do.

All our fostering opportunities are listed in the app, making it easy for you to share them with people in your network. The app also tracks the points you earn through referrals and recognition, so you can see your rewards grow and redeem them whenever it suits you.

To be eligible for Care Friends points, referrals must be made through the app link or identified to the recruiter at the time of application. For duplicate referrals, only the first Foster Carer to refer a candidate (as recorded in the app) will receive points. Referred candidates must not already be working with us, have been referred within the past six months, or be former Foster Carers. They must also live in the advertised region and be applying for a listed opportunity, unless approved by the relevant manager.

You can redeem your points via the app for equal value gift cards. But you need to have accrued a minimum of 50 points before you can redeem them. 

After you have reached the minimum threshold of 50 points you can choose to redeem your points for a gift card. You can request this via the app by clicking on your point bag. Once your request is approved, it can take up to 4 weeks for your gift card to arrive. 

Yes! The more people you refer, the more rewards you can earn – but please note rewards are awarded per foster family rather than per individual foster carer.

Please follow this link with step-by-step instructions on deleting your account on the app.

No. The Care Friends app is completely free to download and use. In fact, by using Care Friends you can earn points which you can redeem for gift cards. 

You can earn points for referring people from your network to also become a foster carer. You already earn points for just sharing a listing, but the further your connection makes it in the approval process, the more points you get. The maximum points you can get for one referral is 250!

Most importantly, by referring others, you’re helping us find more foster carers at a time when the need is greater than ever, meaning more children in care can find safe and loving homes.

You can easily keep track of your points in the app and redeem them at any time, as long as you meet the minimum threshold to cash in.

Redeemed points are converted to equal value gift cards, whereby 1 point = $1

You get 5 points for sharing a listing, 5 points for when someone in your network uses your share link to express interest in becoming a foster carer and we are able to contact them, an additional 20 points if your referral passes the initial home visit, 40 more points if they finish all their training, 40 more points if they pass all their assessments and another 40 points if they’re approved as a foster carer and an additional 100 points if they are still an active foster carer after 6 months. 

And remember 1 point = $1 which can be redeemed for equal value gift cards!

You know best what fostering is really like. Because of this “insider knowledge” you might know someone in your network who you think would make a great carer! By sharing fostering listings you will help friends and contacts discover a rewarding role, we will find more fantastic foster carers and more children will find the loving homes they need.

It is what we like to call a win:win:win.

Pretty much anyone in your network, as long as they meet the requirements for being a foster carer. For example, think who you might know from:

  • your friends
  • your family
  • workplace
  • previous jobs
  • school/TAFE/Uni
  • church group
  • sports clubs/the gym
  • neighbourhood
  • book clubs
  • your kids’ school
  • and who else do you know on socials? 

Even if someone isn’t ready to apply immediately, they can express interest and learn more about becoming a carer via us. You will still receive points for starting the conversation and raising awareness. If they go on to formally apply later, you are still eligible for more points.

In your Care Friends app, under settings – rules. 

For technical support with the app please contact Care Friends via support@carefriends.com.au

For questions about our referral and recognition program, contact us via carersqld@fc.csg.ngo